I don't know why but this game was played on Monday
night and I suspect Canberra will want to play Monday nights for
evermore. Jomaa's send off on 34 minutes wouldn't have helped matters
but that is not to take away from an overall performance by Canberra
which makes a few nice entries in the record books and one imagines
it will also soothe the pain of the 8-0 gubbing handed to the Cosmos
by Wollongong. The 68th minute Moric goal came from a second effort
after a nonchalant penalty was parried.

Perth disappointingly lost the previous rounds game
2-0 to United at home and now were on the road to try to make amends.
Despotovski scores but is disallowed the revenge by an offside decision
and the rain in the second half isn't much help to making the game
entertaining. Late in the game Sydney strike the crossbar for their
best chance

Having lost to Souths in the previous round Adelaide
reversed the outcome despite an earlyish goal to David Clarkson when
a very skilful Damianos sent Clarkson through the defence with a
great pass into space and Clarkson had no trouble scoring. Adelaide
hit back through Brooks who put the ball into the far side of goal
from a Mori pass and a series of very good chances for both sides
ensued. In the end a Mennillo free kick found an unmarked Mori in
front of goal. However true to form at least in this game Mori stuffed
up the chance managing only to glance the ball onto the head of
Tansel Baser who had the misfortune to score. Mori had the cheek to claim
his 100th league goal in this fashion. Mori did infact get his 100th
in this game with a solo effort from his own half. Previously he
found the keeper after eluding 5 defenders on an earlier solo effort
so when confronted by only 3 Souths players he did get past Petkovic
in the Souths goal and finishes the scoring for the night.

Early in the game a cross came into the Sharks penalty
area. Tom Pondeljak's control was a bit off but the ball rolled to
Zeljko Susa who swept the ball into the net for the only goal of the game.
The Knights generally had the better of the game but there was enough
from the Sharks to threaten the equaliser. In the end both teams bluffed
their way to fulltime.

Brisbane are having an atrocious followup season
to their championship. Rod Brown looked to have given Brisbane
at least some points from this game when he headed in a Wehrman
cross despite being marked. This was no less than Brisbane deserved
after creating a good number of chances. So then up pops Archie
Thompson to score a goal off the post thus going one better than
the shot he took to win the corner from which the Falcons reply
was scored. Sheesh talk about convoluted sentences. Anyway true
to Hollywood fashion Thompson takes 3 points when he receives
an Osman pass, defeats the offside arguments and slots the ball
past Bolton. Brisbane's misery continues. For the stats freaks
the official media report lists Canosa and the scorer of the Falcons'
equalising goal, which is not what happened.

Marconi were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty
for a McManus tackle on Babic early in the game and wasted what
other opportunites they created. Newcastle too could have won the game
given Zane's barnstorming run through the middle only to be denied
at the last by a poor shot which the keeper saved. Nice to see
Chi-Chi Mendez play well too.

In a game which had it's share of chances only a long
clearance from the Carlton keeper was of any consequence as John
Markovski beat his man and found the goal from a tough angle, though
he was aided by some poor positioning from Brodbeck who was probably
looking to intercept the cross. A word too on Carlton coach Krncevic's
jacket which was festooned with numbers. I liked it.